Saint Finbar School

2120 West Olive Avenue

Burbank, CA 91506

27 Reviews

School District
Grade

PK-8
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on July 23, 2024

My child had a very disappointing experience at this school. If you are are considering sending you child here, ask questions. Go into the classrooms to see how there is zero technology, carpets are old, closets are run down with inadequate shelving, bathrooms are dirty with plumbing issues. None of these issues have been addressed because the Principal is more concerned with packing classrooms with over 30 students and fundraising with no transparency with how funds are used. Primary levels (K-2) have a more structured academic pathway which can't be said for other grades. High turnover of teachers for Grades 3rd through 5th. All these "teachers" for these grade levels have been parents with children at the school. None are teachers with credentials with actual classroom experience with prior experience teaching in a classroom. Subs are parents. Teachers are parents and are friends outside of the classroom so favoritism is a big issue at the school. Some parents care and others do not when it comes to academic concerns. Books are 20 YEARS old! Don't be tricked with iPads in the classroom because there is no plan for a roll out and teachers still rely on these old textbooks.There is zero academic feedback. Students grade each other's work. These teacher are not assessing the work and just continue to turn pages without paying any regard to whether more than half the class has understood a lesson. Teachers are not responsive to emails and are very defensive if you ask questions specifically academic questions claiming parents are "attacking" them. If your child is struggling with a lesson or needs a little one on one help, your teacher will not do it for free in the upper grades (3rd through 8th). Be ready to pay at least $60 an hour for tutoring help from your own child's teacher.Social-emotional support is nonexistent. If the teacher doesn't like your child or you don't buy the teacher little gifts throughout the school year expect to see how you child is treated differently compared to others. Additionally, if you have a child in a classroom with students that have a parent that works for the school, are friends with the Principal or other staff members, or work for the parish, expect another level of preferential treatment. Kids all know it. Different tardy policies. Supervision is inadequate outdoors. Children are supervising children. Grades 3rd through 8th all go to recess and lunch together. No nurse for accidents.
Submitted by parent on January 22, 2024

Sadly I am very dissappointed in this school. Kids who are expelled for serious problematic issues are back within weeks of being asked to leave (sending a great message to the rest of the students- this has happened at least 3 times this year). We are a private school and not set up with the resources needed to support children with behavioral issues and special needs, but the principal who is a nice person but lacks leadership qualities will literally accept anyone who walks through the door and offers to pay tuition. Parents and older siblings are used as substitute teachers. Basically a free for all. The teachers are clearly burned out and the school as a whole has lost its sense of community as a result. I would pull my kids, but being that this school is all they know, we are making the best of it for now. If you are looking for a traditional Catholic School I would look elsewhere.
Submitted by parent on August 01, 2023

The teachers are knowledgeable, helpful and friendly. The Principal is very engaged to the School activities. Great religious formation for the students.
Submitted by other on June 11, 2023

My family has had the most positive experiences here. The teachers are kind, knowledgeable, and nurturing towards the students. The new Principal is wonderful. She interacts with the kids vs just staying behind a desk. Whenever there are fun events at school, which is always, she can be found front and center cheering the students on. I would highly recommend this school to anyone that cares about community and kids being kids vs trying to grow up too fast. The other parents are welcoming and all share the same goal of our children having the best school experience possible. We have never heard of any bullying happening or being tolerated. The students all seem to get along very well. They carry themselves respectfully and are sweet to the younger grades. The schools curriculum is truly great, so much so that my child is always anxious to go each day. That’s huge for us. We appreciate the time and effort placed into the students learning and all the transparency. We’re big fans of the emails sent out that keep us informed as to what they’ve learned as well as what they will be learning.The close proximity of the church is also a plus.The religion lessons taught are very beautiful and Father Francis’ personality only adds to it’s beauty. Our child knows all his prayers and learned so many praises from school, it’s touching to see how much his faith has grown. We are also glad it’s located in Burbank, because it’s a very safe city and the police department is quite close and have an incredible response time if ever a case of emergency. The school is also gated and upgraded it’s security systems in place. There’s really no end in the compliments I can give to this school and it’s staff. We feel so blessed to have found it and to attend it till our child goes on to high school. The friendships built there are yet another reason this school is a wonderful place.
Submitted by parent on August 02, 2022

The school assigned an anti-mask, COVID-denier to be their COVID coordinator. Keep that logic in mind. This same staff member has also been known to bully students directly. Although the school had implemented certain rules to ensure safety during high COVID numbers, there were many exceptions made by this COVID coordinator who also didnt follow the rules herself. She is not certified or trained to teach, yet she often subs for classes where students often come home to tell their parents how they have been treated unfairly. LearningStudents who want to learn have a hard time doing so because of other students who are disruptive. Those students are never punished so they continue their behaviors. Books used in class are old, from before the year 2000 and need replacing. Registration is paid yearly by all families yet books are hardly replaced. Academics do not seem to be a high priority. TeachingThe turnover rate at this school is high. Teachers leave for higher pay and better treatment. Other teachers are not certified or are very old fashioned and not fluent with new technology. Some teachers have been known to be very harsh on students and families that they are not happy with. Families are afraid to complain because nothing happens when they do. Instead, teachers retaliate when they hear which family has made a complaint. The principal is too afraid to reprimand her teachers so nothing is done. Social-emotional supportNon-existent. The teachers and staff are not trained to deal with students' mental health and emotional well-being. Some staff members who have children enrolled at the school, contribute to the problem by bullying students who their child has issues with. Administration often makes excuses for staff members that parents complain about and nothing is done about it. Students who are bullies are not given consequences if the administration does not want to deal with their parents. So not all issues are handled fairly. Special EducationNon-existent againSafetyParents have complained about unlocked doors that students can easily exit from. The yard gate is sometimes left open unattended during school hours. Family EngagementNot all families feel welcome. The school favors certain demographics. Mostly families with money, power and influence. Families known to make generous donations are obviously favored. Same with families that staff members are extremely friendly with.
Submitted by parent on March 01, 2022

Not worth it!! You are better off having your child in public school. Some new employees and new teacher bringing political views to classroom, very disorganized, no teaching experience. Teacher never responds to parents or emails! Racist remarks toward parents having accents and making these remarks to students. I will never recommend this school to anyone. Very few good teachers! Public school is testing higher academically then this school. Lost their religious foundation. New Administration is not being accountable! It seems like they dont even exist.
Submitted by parent on July 19, 2020

I would not recommend this school to anyone who is progressive thinking, open-minded, opinionated, modern. This school still functions like it's the 50s. Make sure your husbands are the ones sending the emails because that is the only way you can get a respectful response back. You are not encouraged to share your thoughts, opinions or concerns. The school needs leadership. The current one is old and stale. Administration, which is just the principal, discourages open communication. With COVID parents have not had one virtual meeting while we hear of all other schools who have had their principals reach out to them. Decisions are made without asking parents. Especially with COVID parents were not even surveyed about reopening in the fall. Instead the principal pushes his personal agenda. Do not believe what you are told at your tour. Ask questions and ask about these reviews. Teachers leave every year. Really wanted to love this school but the negatives are too much to overlook.
Submitted by parent on June 23, 2020

Its been alright up until Covid. We came to this school looking for a school family and have been sad to find a fleet of frustrated parents that feel totally ignored and disrespected by this principle. I've watched the PTO and room parents try to get involved but the principle only cares about them doing fund raising and cuts them off when questions are asked. Parents are NOT supposed to get invested in this school or parish, you are just supposed to pay tuition then leave him and the pastor alone. So if you want to be part of a family school, this inst the school for you. They have an amazing group of parent volunteers but they seem totally defeated by the principles total lack of engagement. This school doesn't foster unity in fact I think he likes to keep people divided so he can maintain control and not have parents talk. If you have issues, you will be very alone in them with no neutral outside help to get resolution. The principle has no Boss (including the archdioceses) so he does as he pleases. If you think Catholic schools fall under leadership, think again. The archdioceses is in an advisory roll only. They have ZERO say over what the principle does and that's scary especially when we are dealing with Covid 19 and the principle doesn't take it seriously or think its real.
Submitted by parent on February 05, 2020

This school is good. This school cares about its children. No one must question this school. All hail Principle Morasco. If you question him your child will be punished. If you question him you will be screamed at. This school is so bad I no longer have any faith in the Catholic church and I'm considering leaving the faith. Now shhhhhhh I talked too much.
Submitted by parent on June 03, 2019

We really love this school and would give it 5 stars
Submitted by parent on June 03, 2019

Excellent - we love being a part of this little private school family. We originally wanted to go to Good Shepard in Studio City but ended up in Saint Finbar and couldn't be happier with the decision to give this school a try.
Submitted by parent on January 06, 2019

This school was the worst experience at education I have ever seen. It really should be put out of business. This place should not be teacher kids. It is a hot bed of terrible teachers and terrible principle leading terrible teachers.
Submitted by parent on November 13, 2018

My son is in Kinder and we couldn't be happier with St. Finbar school. You cannot put a price on a wholesome Catholic education. We can't wait for our 2 year old to begin in TK soon!
Submitted by parent on August 26, 2018

This school is trying to make money out of people my child Was in kindergarten but was pulled back into kindergarten an de as not allowed to go to first grade.
Submitted by other on June 20, 2018

I am glad my child is done with St. Finbar.
Submitted by other on April 23, 2018

1 out of 5 stars very poor middle school environment
Submitted by parent on March 27, 2018

Good times in the lower grades--though two of the best teachers left for greener pastures. I'd recommend another school for middle school.
Submitted by parent on October 23, 2017

I wish I would have truly researched this school, and talked to several parents. I also should have walked into every classroom to see that there is no technology.
Submitted by parent on October 03, 2017

The principal needs to be fired along with its teachers. Not being bias just judging from actions.
Submitted by other on March 20, 2017

My niece goes to that school and has complained that the Math Teacher bullies many of the students; this affects how my niece performs in school. I am very saddened that a Catholic School allows this type of teacher's behavior. I have told my sister to take her daughter out of that school!